If you’re looking for a drink with a bit more buzz, you’re in luck. British microbiologists have just made beer using yeast harvested from the intestines of Africanized honeybees, also known as killer honeybees.
Bee beer was brewed by researchers at Cardiff University. While visiting Namibia in southwestern Africa as part of a research project, they became interested in the country’s killer bees.On a whim, they decided to collect samples budding yeastThis is a fungus that has long been used to make beer, wine, and baked goods, and is harvested from the gut microbiota of naturally dead killer bees. This fungus is more commonly known as brewer’s yeast.
“When we returned to Cardiff, we made several batches of beer using isolated killer bee beer yeast and yeast from Welsh honeybees,” said Les Bailly, professor of microbiology at Cardiff University. . statement From university.
Killer honey bees are hybrids of various subspecies of Western honey bees (Western honey bee) European and East African lowland bees (separate subspecies in their own right, Morning: Discoid). Their nickname comes from their territorial and aggressive nature compared to other bee species. Killer bees are much more likely to perceive humans and animals as threats to protect against, and may even pursue such threats to greater distances than other species. Although killer bees are not as dangerous as initial media reports, thought It is believed that they have killed at least 1,000 people since their arrival in the Americas in the 1950s.
The Cardiff team’s beer is a derivative of the larger team’s beer. Pharma beads The project seeks to find out whether pollination of certain plants could lead to the development of drugs to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria and superbugs. As part of the project, researchers transported hives and installed them on campus. The hives are expected to yield super honey with new antibacterial properties.
While this hot beer isn’t specifically part of that goal, the team is currently looking for brewing partners to help bring this beer to market. The proceeds will be used to fund bee-related research.
“Research on honeybees reveals how honey, beeswax and other bee byproducts can help solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, including tackling antibiotic resistance and superbugs. ” Bailey said.
